Themes of Catholic
Social Teaching

Catholic Social Teaching is an example of a “tradition of ethics” that “address the whole person, in his or her total identity as a member of society—never with a narrow view of persons as merely passive subjects of arbitrary or inflexible laws" ( Thomas Massaro, Living Justice: Catholic Social Teaching in Action, 3rd ed. (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2016), [57,58]). It is also defined as “a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society” ("Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching," United States Conference of Catholic Bishops). The seven key themes of Catholic Social Teaching are 

Life and Dignity of the Human Person

The Catholic Church teaches that human life is sacred, that the dignity of the human person is the key to a successful, moral society, and that this is the foundation of all the principles of Catholic social teaching. Catholics believe that every person is precious and that every institution has a duty to enhance the life and dignity of the human person. In relation to those with disabilities, there is particular emphasis on the dignity part. Not treating the disabled with dignity in general, specifically by ignoring their accessibility needs, is what has caused there to be a social injustice in this realm.

The modern teaching of life and dignity of a human person is illustrated in Pope Francis’ encyclical Fratelli Tutti, in which he eloquently wrote, “The world exists for everyone, because all of us were born with the same dignity. Differences of color, religion, talent, place of birth or residence, and so many others, cannot be used to justify the privileges of some over the rights of all. As a community, we have an obligation to ensure that every person lives with dignity and has sufficient opportunities for his or her integral development.” This broad statement speaks volumes for the disabled community. Note Pope Francis’ final sentence, that “we” as Catholics are obligated to ensure that every person—including those with disabilities—lives with dignity and sufficient opportunities. He calls us to never settle for less, ensuring that all that can be done has been done. This includes not only treating the disabled as equals and with respect, but also working towards making a better world for them.

Rights and Responsibilities

In relation to this dignity of the human person, the Catholic tradition teaches that human rights must be protected and responsibilities met in order for human dignity to be protected and a healthy community to be achieved. Secondly, every person has a fundamental right to life and to human decency. Thirdly and most relevant to my issue, corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities—-to one another, to our families, and to the larger society. Society has a responsibility to care for the less fortunate, specifically the disabled. It is not just about valuing their dignity, but also about upholding the responsibility of ensuring that their needs of human decency are met.